This discussion was inspired by the recent article about our 3 favourite female singers.
Because it was impossible for me to pick just three female vocalists ( I love women singers), I will not put a limit as to how many you wish to vote for. I limited myself to a dozen. However, if you list more that 50 I will seriously question your decision making skills.
In no particular order, except for Rory at number one.
I enjoyed Mick Ronson a whole lot. Superlative tone. One of the best practitioners of the one note lead guitar solo ever to strap on a guitar. I'm not putting him down with that remark, either. Just as Bruce Springsteen once sang, Ronson learned how to make his guitar talk. Or more accurately, scream.
I play guitar, so I lean more toward ability than compositional skills. If you asked who were my favorite composers who play guitar, Buckethead would still be at the top of the list, but the rest of the list would be different.
Jimi and Jeff Beck would certainly be on my list as well as Mateo Mancuso. I know he is very young but incredible talent and technically one of the bright stars on the horizon. Oh and don’t forget Alan Holdsworth-one of my all time favorites. I think we need to mention some classical guitarists as well. Segovia, John Williams, Julian Bream and many others in this genre. One more here-Joe Pass.
EVH, Wes Montgomery, Walter Becker, Joao Gilberto, Grant Green, Lindsay Buckingham, Jimmy Page, Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Elliot Easton, James Honeyman Scott, Andy Summers, Robert Fripp, Steve Howe
As a guitarist i have been on the hunt for out side the box players...still understand able and somewhat understated...Nguyen le,kirk rosenwinkle,Evjeny pobozhiy Among the usual’s too.
Guys, how are we missing George Harrison, Derrin Nauenforf and PRINCE. Has anyone seen his rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from the R&RHOF? Love Mick Ronson and Johnny Thunders. How about Joe Perry & Neil Geraldo (underrated) too. Sure Nancy Wilson, Pete Townsend & Hendrix and all the above listed. Just soooo many. Yes to Hans Theessink, Rory Gallegher, Ronnie Wood. Could run in this all day.
Wow, i just scanned all 4 “pages” of contributors to this great thread and did not see a single person mention jazz guitarist Chris Standring!
i love his artistry, plus he writes the music for all his songs (including orchestral instruments that accompany several of his songs).
i saw him live in nashville and he was tremendous.
Am i truly alone recognizing and enjoying his talent?
A number of years ago I followed a link in an on line article titled The 10 Best Guitar Players You’ve Never Heard of. I found a guy named Jon Gomm. He’s fantastic! Do a little google search on his name.
I’ve been fortunate enough to see some of these folks live so let me give an additional thumbs up to Robben Ford and Tommy Emmanuel.
Peter Green is another all time fave, though I’ve never heard him in person.
Mark Knopfler is often passed over in these discussions and yet I think he plays with an understated elegance and soulfulness that is virtuoso but not flashy. I’ve never seen him solo but saw Dire Straits twice.
As a blues afficiando it’s hard to avoid the Kings of electric guitar: Freddie, Albert and B.B. Have not listened to Born Under a Bad Sign in months. I’m overdue.
I was lucky enough to see SRV on the same stage as Clapton and he blew everyone away. Also that night Jeff Healy impressed with his fire and emotion. Not many folks know he played the trumpet as well.
On the Jazz side I really like Pat Metheny, Kenny Burrell and Grant Green. But if you’re an audiophile and have not heard any of the albums by Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin and Paco DeLucia you are missing out. Bill Frisell and Larry Coryell deserve an honorable mention here too.
I didn’t notice any female players mentioned so allow me to throw a couple of names off the top of my head into the mix here.
Sue Foley is a very talented blues player and Patty Larkin is just fantastic; check out Banish Misfortune/Open Hand , either the studio or live version.
And I love Susan Tedeschi but am I the only one that thinks Dereck Trucks sounds screechy? Or is he always just in the wrong key?
Maybe I've mentioned this before, but I continue to appreciate Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Joni Mitchell -- all major influences on my own guitar playing. Joan Jett was fun if perhaps a bit sloppy. One of the punk bands I played in had a female lead guitarist, too. She was horrible. I got to say, though, that her ineptness had little to do with our own lack of success. Even by punk band standards we were horrible.
@bgross: Guess you missed my post, ay? Harrison is in there.
Since his name has been invoked, will someone tell me why people call Keith Richards "Keef"? For evidence of why I didn’t list him, watch the scene in the documentary (Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll) Richards made on the great Chuck Berry (a name I DID neglect to include), in which Chuck repeatedly demonstrates to Keith how to play "Oh, Carol" correctly (with the signature guitar phrase played starting with the strings "bent" up.). Try as he might, Keith just can’t do it. Lame. If you think Richards is good at the Chuck Berry style, you really need to hear Dave Edmunds.
I had to edit so many times, but I reached the limit and can’t go back and add Brian May, whose playing I adore. So distinctive, built his own guitar, and has musicality oozing from his fingers. Definitely one of my all-time favorites.
If you ever get the chance to hear Sharon Isben, don't miss it. Even if you think you don't like the unamplified classical guitar. One of the greats I think.
As a guitar player for 50 years, my standard for "greatness" is measured by how many other musicians play your stuff. Jeff Beck wins hands down. Nobody tries to emulate his playing.
+1 (from another guitar player - of 46 years)
I don’t think anybody tries to emulate his playing because nobody CAN emulate his playing. Jimmy Page used to flummox me as a young player, until I discovered his alternate tunings. Jeff Beck? I've never even bothered to try, not once. His style, technique, tones...........simply amazing. Otherworldly. His "Live At Ronnie Scott's" DVD is one for the ages. There's a great Youtube video of him being interviewed about the gig and what he thought the best moments were and why.
And another +1 for Rory Gallagher. Highly, HIGHLY underrated. When someone once asked Hendrix how it felt to be "the greatest guitarist in the world", his reply was "I don't know, go ask Rory Gallagher.”
Read through this whole post. Did not see Michael Schenker mentioned once. Maybe I missed it. Man wrote his first published song at 12 years old. Credited on over 60 albums.
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